5 Best Touring Bikes Under Rs 2 Lakh

With a variety of different genres of bikes to choose from, here’s a detailed explanation of what’s each bike strengths and weaknesses are while touring

Travelling on two wheels with a couple of bags strapped to the rear-end, the wind in your face and the sweet music of that engine is what gets motorcycle enthusiasts excited all the time. For that idea to be a proper fulfilling experience, the companion i.e. the bike needs to be up to the task. So, whether you want to go to the hills or the plains, here are the 5 best bikes under Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom) to go touring with:

Royal Enfield Classic 350

When it comes to choosing a bike for touring, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been one of the most famous options for decades now. Whether you are out on a long, straight open stretch of road or up in the mountain twisties, the Classic 350 is a darling of a bike as your companion for the ride. The thumping 349cc, single-cylinder engine’s relaxed nature lets you ride at your own pace; whether you want to chill for a while and take in the sights passing you by or cover long distances as quickly as possible, the motor is pliant either way. 

Combined with the solid build quality, balanced chassis, a suspension setup that soaks up bumps and potholes quite easily and good handling capabilities, the roadster is very adaptable for any kind of scenarios that might pop while touring. Also, for an extra Rs 5,000, you can opt for the Tripper navigation accessory which is immensely handy while touring. If you like to tour at your own pace and want a comfy, relaxed companion for that, then the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the one for you.  

Hero Mavrick 440

Based on the Harley-Davidson X440, the Hero Mavrick 440 gets the same very likeable, torquey and refined engine. You can effortlessly ride at 100kmph in 6th gear and the bike can comfortably do triple-digit speeds all day. The smooth power delivery and the light clutch further complements that trait. The suspension is very plush and handles bad road conditions very well. It feels very steady and planted on the corners as well as on the long straights. 

And the ergonomics are super comfortable as well. The relaxed, upright riding posture allows you to cruise along and sit on the saddle for hours without getting uncomfortable. The instrument console’s layout could have been better, as it feels cramped now. But it gets turn-by-turn navigation, which is always welcomed while exploring unknown places. So, if you are looking for a 400cc bike under Rs 2,00,000 that offers smooth performance along with very comfortable ergonomics and ride quality, then you should look out for the Hero Mavrick 440.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

Bajaj Auto launched the Pulsar NS400Z a little over a month ago and the pricing makes it the perfect example of the term 'performance on a budget’. It is powered by the Dominar 400’s engine but with a bigger rear sprocket, which has resulted in a peppy acceleration from the motor. It is tractable too, meaning you can cruise along at speeds of 60kmph in 4th gear. The streetfighter can also do speeds of 100kmph in 6th gear at 5,500rpm very easily and the good mid-range performance makes it a good highway cruiser. However, post 120kmph, vibrations can be felt at the handlebar and foot pegs. 

It does require a bit of effort to tip the Pulsar NS400Z into corners but that’s not a big factor. It is quite a fun bike to ride in the mountain twisties. But if pushed too hard or during heavy braking scenarios, the front-end feels twitchy because the bike gets a non-radial front tyre. The suspension setup is on the stiffer side but on smooth highways, the ride quality is quite good. 

In terms of features, the list is quite extensive. It gets an LCD console with a dot-matrix inset, Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. Also available is ride-by-wire technology, traction control, four riding modes and adjustable brake and clutch levers. This makes the streetfighter quite an easy bike to live with on an everyday basis, which is essential when you are out on long tours. The NS400Z is for someone who wants peppy performance, comfortable and upright riding posture and an extensive features list under Rs 1.9 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Bajaj Dominar 250

The smaller Dominar’s power delivery is peaky but the motor wins you over with its refinement and butter smooth performance. It can do speeds of 100-120kmph easily and vibrations can only be felt post 8000rpm. With the upright riding posture, wide handlebars and the mid-set footpegs, you can be comfortable on the bike even after touring for long hours. And it is well complemented by the plush suspension setup that delivers a wonderful riding experience, especially at straight line speeds. The Dominar 250 was clearly designed with touring mentalities in mind. However, the 180kg kerb weight can feel quite heavy at times.  

Suzuki Gixxer SF 250

Suzuki motorcycles are known for their smooth motors and the Gixxer SF 250’s 249cc, single-cylinder making 26.5PS and 22.2Nm is no exception. The great linear power delivery and tractable nature of the engine makes it quite fun to ride anywhere. It provides great in-gear roll-on acceleration, which is very helpful while touring on highways as you don’t have to worry about rapid gear changes and can cover large distances in a single gear. And the slick gearbox complements the overall experience very well. The bike can handle speeds of up to 120kmph in 6th gear comfortably.  

The Gixxers (both 150cc and 250cc bikes) have always had great handling capabilities. With the Gixxer SF 250 weighing just 161kg and the wheelbase being 1345mm long, the bike is very easy to manoeuvre and tips into corners quite easily. The riding posture is not very sporty, leaning more towards being upright. The comfortable riding posture adds into the bike being comfortable to cruise with. And the suspension setup is brilliantly set up and soaks up bumps and potholes quite well. If you are looking for a bike with smooth power delivery, great handling dynamics and good ergonomics, then you should consider the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250.